Transmission system and gearing lubrication



Aug. 25, 1936. A, H. LAND 2,051,886

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND GEARING LUBRICATION Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet-l INVENTOR ALFoNs H.NEULAND BY .4 QMW ATTORNEY Aug. 25,1936. A. H. NEULAND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND GEARING LUBRICATION FiledJan. 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFONS H. NEULAND BY W 4 6MATTQRNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1936 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND LUBRICATIONAlfons H. Neuland, Irvington, N. J. Application January 16, 1933, SerialNo. 652,037 23 Claims. (Cl. 29011) GEARHVG as well as the connectionbetween the engine and transmission oiling systems.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section of an oil check valve shown in Figure 2.

component parts and in winch the elements of Figure 4 is a fragmentarysectional view of e gearing are arranged to be held in rigidalignanother form of my invention taken from my 00- ment with oneanother and in which the lateral pending application identified above.thrust between the gears and the load thrust Re erring to Figures 1 and2 of the drawings between the planets and the spider is carried by inwhich like numerals identify like parts, I repanti-friction bearings Thelubrication of a resents the crank shaft on the internal combusplanetarygear train is often unsatisfactory due tion engine having a drive flange2 bolted to it the rapidly rotating planets has a tendency to secured tothe flange 3 is provided with gear throw off any 011 which may cling tothe gear teeth 6 and forms an internal sun gear A pluteeth and preventthe oil from reaching the rality of planet gears 1 mesh with the sungear planet gear bearings which often results in undue and are arrangedto be supported by the Jourwear accompanied by objectionable noise andvi- January 12, 1931.

an object of my invention i 2 of the planet spider journaled within theflange It is tive lubrication for the i3. The bore of the combine agearing with an internal combustion nection with the load shaft l4 WhlChextends engine so as to employ a single oil pump for thru thetransmission and has its other end supfurnishing lubrication to theengine and the ported by the ball bearing IS A small sun geartransmission. 6 meshes with the planet gears and is journaled Stillanother object is to provide a common oil with the shaft H by means ofthe bearing l1 reservoir for engine and transmision, and meansPreferably, gears 6, 1 and i6 are provided with whereby the 011 from theengine oil p mp may helical teeth for smooth and quiet operation betransmitted to the transmission and returned u gear I 6 is provided witha. sleeve extento the engine without undue loss of the oil son [8 and isiournaled within member i9 by Still another obJect of the invention isto m an of the rad al and thrust bearing 20 The maintain a given oillevel in the transmission and sleeve I3 15 provided th i t Sphnes t toprevent oil leakage. which a sleeve 2! is fitted, establishing a drivingA furth r Object s to p vid quate ventilaconnection between the sun geari6 and an armation of the electrical elements of the assembly tur 22which is secured to the sleeve 2| and jourstill other objectsand'advantages of my mnaled within the rear bracket 23 with the ballvention will appear from the following detailed bearing 24 An armature25 is secured to the des ription and app n d drawings of a predrum 5 andcooperates with the field element 26 i'erred embodiment which I haveselected for illussecured to the engine support plate A second trationin which field element 21 is provided to cooperate with the Figure 1 isin part a longitudinal section and in armature 22 and secured to thefield element 26 part a side elevation of an electrical transmission bythe brush bracket 28. The brush bracket is cooperating with a planetarygearing for transprovided with brushes 29 and 30 which collect and showsparticularly the general assembly of the electrical ments.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the and mechanical elerigidlysupthrough the bearing 35, I provide a regulator generator 35 secured tothe field element 2? and arranged to be driven from the load shaft it bythe belt ill.

I shall not herein describe the operation of the electrical parts or mysystem as it is described in detail in my copending applications SerialNo. 508,094, filed on January 12, 1931 and Serial No. 649,636, filedDecember 30, 12932.

I further provide a damper 38 secured to the end of the load shalt idand having another member 38 secured to the propeller shalt, not shown,by means of the bolts ll. The two parts of the damper are yieldinglyconnected with one another by means of the springs dd. The damper servesto minimize gearing noise and vibration due to variations in the angularvelocity of the internal combustion engine shaft with respect to thearmature 22 and is fully described in my copending application SerialNo. 649,637, filed on December 30, 1932.

The construction above described serves to rigidly support the ends ofthe two armatures and is well adapted to maintain rigidity andconcentricity between the several elements of the gearing and to permiteasy disassembly of the transmission. The shaft it including the damperand bracket 23 may be withdrawn as a unit by removal of the bolts 42 anded as the splined end of the shaft is slidingly fitted within the drivedisc l2. Thereafter the rear unit including armature 22, field elementEl and brush bracket 28 can be separated from the front unit by theremoval of the bolts it, the assembly being arranged so that the splinedend of the sleeve 2 can slide out of the gear sleeve is and so that theannular extension 3 3 will slide-away from the outer race or the bearing35. The entire transmission may be removed as a unit by removing thebolts securing the field it to the engine plate and the bolts 3csecuring flanges 2 and 3 together. The shaft it and the damper mayberemoved as a unit by simply removing bolts d2. Also, by removing boltst3, the unit assembly of shaft it, armature 2?. and the damper may beremoved as a whole.

It will be noted that my construction also provides for an arrangementand combination between the elements of the gearing to reduce friction,to secure rigid alignment of the planets with the sun gears and tofacilitate assembly of the gearing within the limited space provided bythe hollow armature 25. For instance, I prefer the use of a single drumwhich serves as a shell for the armature 25, and by providing the drumwith internal teeth out around its inner circumferonce it is also madeto serve as the sun gear for the differential gear train, the flangesprovided at the ends of the drum facilitating the bolting oi thecommutator shell member id to one end, and the drive flange cover plate3 to the other end so as to form a totally enclosed gear case i alsoprovide needle rollers it interposed between the journal pins 8, whichserve as the inner races and the hardened bores or hardened steel linersin the planet gears which serve as the outer races. The ends or" therace pins 8 are pressditted into holes in the flanges of theplanetcarrier flanges which latter are locked together and held inalignment by the spacers l lo, the bearings ii and i3 permittingrotation of the spider planets with respect to the drum 5 and serving toinsure rigid alignment between the planets and the internal gear. The,shaft it is fitted within a concentric splined hole in the flange l2 andby means of the bearing bushing ll holds the small sun gear it having anelement 'ingll.

aosnsec in rigid alignment with the planet gears. The sleeve it of gearit is locked within the inner race of the ball bearing Ell which ispreferably of a combined radial and thrust type. It should be noted thatthis construction is particularly suited for use with helical toothgears and that all lateral thrust resulting from the use of helicalgears is carried by the anti-friction thrust bearing 2% interposedbetween the small and large sun gears, preventing all thrust between theplanet gears and the spider, as the thrust from the large sun gear uponthe planet in one direction is neutralized by an equal thrust from thesmall sun gear on the planet gears in the opposite direction. Thisarrangement has substantial advantages over that in which the thrust istaken up between the planet gears and the gear spider, in view of thelimited space within the relatively small planet gears and thecomplication which results from the use of thrust bearlugs for each ofthe several planet gears.

My gear arrangement is also such as to facilitate assembly anddisassembly of the several parts. For instance, the inner race of thethrust bearing 26 may be locked on the extreme end of the small sun gearsleeve l8, and its outer race locked in place by the flange of thespider bear- The planet and spider assembly may then be inserted intothe left end of the gear case, the flange at the left of the drum 5being notched, not shown, in as many places as there are planet gears soas to permit the planets to enter the drum to mesh with the two sungears the end of the annulus ll) to be slipped within the bearing ll.The drive flange 3 is then bolted into place and serves as a cover fortightly enclosing the gears, the bearing 13 within its bore fitting overthe journal portion of the flange cover 3 and so insuring rigidalignment between planets and sun gears.

(not shown) may be used to lock bearing flange ii in place in order whendisassembling, not to disturb the bolts which look the commutator shellid to the drum 5.

It is obvious that the flange on engine shaft 1 may be made of largerdiameter and be bolted directly to flange 3 without the intermediateflange 2, or, if desired, the flange 3 also may be omitted and theengine shaft flange bolted directly to the end of drurnii. In the lattercase would be seated directly in the end of shaft l in the place of theplug d. I prefer to use the flange however, since it permits theassembly of the differential gear arrangement independently of theengine shaft.

' I also provide holes its in the commutator shell iii and in thebearing flange ii which serve to return to the gear case any lubricantthat may work through the bearing 28 and so prevent the lubricant fromaccumulating and working through the felt seal till) secured to shell isand surrounding sleeve 2i. Another felt seal Elia is carried by bracket23 and surrounds the end of member is to prevent the loss of grease frombearing 35, the bearing being provided with a grease shield on the leftto prevent the grease from reaching the commutator of armature 25. Athird felt seal 23a is carried by iiange cap 23b and bears against anextension of element 38 to prevent the escape of grease from bearings 45and 28. Bearing 24 is provided with a grease shield on the left toprevent escape of grease.

Turning now to Figure 2 which shows particularly, an embodiment suitablefor lubricating the transmission from the engine, I provide a hole to iit should be noted that separate bolts.

the bearing l3.

plained, the overflow being conducted through the space surrounding tube41 into the pocket 51 and reaching the bearing I3, the surplus beingexpelled through the opening 58 into the gear case.

My invention provides for the maintenance of gear case through theflanges 3 and 2, preferably fitted with check valves 60, the purpose ofwhich will hereafter be more fully described.

I further provide a The ring 6| may have a smooth inner surface as shownin Figure l or may be provided with grooves 62 and a center engine oilpan 66 by means It will be seen that the rotating engine shaft drivesthe gear case 5 and operates the pump 5|. Oil flows from the where dueto centrifugal force a layer of oil builds ranged e ball 10 looselyfitted within the hole H and pressed against the seat 12 by the springll seated against a. plug 14 provided with a hole returned to theengine.

nstruction also provides forced ventilation y co of the electricmachines by means the other figures are indicated by like reference-,through the difierential gearing.

. engine in drivin or delivers power numerals. As will be seen, bevelgears are em== ployed instead or spur gears and the sun gear t is formedon the flange Ii; the flange of shaft i being bolted directly to f ange3. Planet spider i2 is keyed to load shaft it, the left end of which issupported in a combined radial and thrust bearing it carried by flange3. Planet gears l are journaled upon the arms of spider 52 by com-=bined radial and thrust bearings Si. Sun gear is is journaled by hearingll upon shaft l5 and is also journaled in flange it by a combined radialand thrust bearing 26, which prevents relative displacement between thetwo sun gears. The terminal extension of fiange l is supported frombrush bracket (flange) 2% by an anti-friction bearing 35, in the samemanner as in Fig. i.

- The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is adapted for lubrication without theaid of external means. For this purpose the planet or intermediate gearsi are provided with a groove or reservoir in and substantially radialholes lb connecting the res ervoir with the spaces between the gearteeth. By these means the lubricant, which due to, centrifugal forceduring engine rotation hugs the inner wall of the drum 5, is pumped intothe holes and the reservoir and due to centrifugal force acting on therotating gear l, is expelled against the teeth of the sleeve gear it,thereby keeping it lubricated. In instances when the relative gear speedis high or when greater lubrication eiiectiveness for the small gear isdesired, I provide closely fitted shields, not shown, on one or bothsides of the intermediate gears which operate to hold the lubri cantbetween the teeth of the intermediate gears in spite of the centrifugalforce acting thereon and to conduct the lubricant to the small gear.

It will be understood that in one stage of operation the dynamo 22-2l isdriven as a generator by the engine and supplies a reaction forceagainst which the engine drives the load shaft In another stage, thedynamo 22-4 1 is driven as a motor from dynamo 25-26 and supplies adriving force to the small sun gear, which force cooperates with forcesupplied to the-large sun gear by the the load shalt it. In the ap= thedynamo 22-4? will be referred to as a power device or element and thisterm is used broadly to indicate a device which either absorbs powerfrom the differential gear to it. While my invention as shown operatesas an electro-mechanicai trans= mission system, it may be used as apurely mechanical transmission system by replacing armat'ure 22 with amechanical variable power absorbing device such as a friction brake orthe like.

While I have herein shown a complete system embodying my invention anddescribed its operation in connection with a motor vehicle, I desire tohave it understood that my invention is adapted for othcr'uses and thatit may be used in whole or in part, depending upon the requirements tobe met, in the described or other embodiments within the principle andscope of my invention, and I desire that only limitations required bythe prior art or the appended claims be imposed upon it.

I claim:

1. In combination, a dynamo having a station= my field structure and arotatable armature, a difierential gearing embodied in said dynamopended claims gearing being journaled independently structure having oneelement connected to said armature, a second dynamo axially aligned withthe first dynamo and having a stationary field structure secured to thefield of the first dynamo. an armature for hollow shaft connected to asecond element oi said differential gearing, and a load shaft arrangedwithin said hollow shaft and having a splined connection with the thirdelement of said diiierential gearing whereby said load shaft may bedisconnected from said gearing without dismantling said dynamos.

2. In combination, a dynamo having a station= ary field structure and arotatable armature,- a differential gearing embodied in said dynamostructure having one element connected to said armature, a second dynamoaxially aligned with the first dynamo and having a stationary fieldstructure secured to the field of the first dynamo, an armature for thesecond dynamo having a hollow shaft journaled at one end in the endflange of said second dynamo and having a splined connection to a secondelement of said gearing, a load shaft within said hollow shaft andjournaled to said "end flange and having a splined connection to a thirdelement of said gearing, flange, second armature and load shaft may bethe second dynamo having a whereby said end removed-as a unit from thedynamo structure and gearing.

3. In combination, a dynamo having a stationary field structure and arotating armature journaled in said field structure, said armatureincluding a hollow drum, a drive shaft connected to said drum, adifierential gearing enclosed in said drum having one element driven bysaid drum, a second dynamo axially aligned with the first dynamo andhaving a stationary field struc ture secured to the field of the firstdynamo, a hollow shaft connecting the armature of the second dynamo toa. second element of the differential gearing, and a load shaft arrangedwithin said hollow shaft and connected to the third element of saidgearing, said hollow shaft and load shaft each including a splinedconnec tion whereby said second dynamo and load shaft may bedisconnected as a unit from said first dynamo and differential gearing.

4. In combination, a drive shaft, a power de= vice axially aligned withsaid drive shaft, a ditferential gear arranged between said drive shaftand said power device having one of its elements connected to said driveshaft, a hollow shaft con= necting said power device to one of theelements of said difierential gearing,'a load'shaft within said hollowshaft and connected to a third element of said differential gearing,said hollow shaftand load shaft being provided with splined connectionswhereby said power device and load shaft may be disconnected as a unitfrom said differential gearing, the elements of said differential ofsaid hollow shaft and said load shaft.

5. A differential gearing comprising a large sun gear having internalhelical teeth, a small sun gear having external helical teeth, and aplanet spider carrying a plurality of planet gears ar ranged betweensaid sun gears, and means for relieving thrust between the planet gearsand the spider in either direction including a bi-lateral thrust bearinginterposed directly between said sun gears, having the inner and theouter races locked against lateral movement in both directions withrespect to the small and the large gear case, and pumping means forcirculating the sun gears respectively. lubricant between radiallyseparated points of 6. A differential gearing comprising a large sun thegear case and thru said bearings.

gear having internal helical teeth, a small sun 11. In combination, adriving member, a driven gear having external helical teeth,a planetspider member, a rotatable gear case connected with 5 ing thrust betweenthe rollers and races of said ing the spider with the sun gears, alubricant l0 tween said sun gears. the lubricant and for circulating thelubricant A diflerential gearing comprising a drum from an outer pointof the case to a central point housing having helical teeth formed onthe inof the case and thru said bearings. side thereof forming a largesun gear, a hollow 12. In combination, a driving member, a driven sleevejoumaled in one end flange of said drum member, a rotatable gear caseconnected with one the other end flange of said drum and having a ablespider and bearings for said planet gears, 2

having a bearing connection with the first end central part of the gearcase, means for circulatoutside of said drum coaxially with said loadmember, a rotatable gear case connected with Sh ft. I

8. In combination, a dynamo having a stationing the members includingsun and planet gears, ary field structure and a rotating rmature .l' lla rotatable spider and bearings for said planet eluding a. hollow drum,8. drive shaft connected sun gears, a lubricant within the gear casesubture secured to the field of the first dynamo, a force, and means forexpelling oil by centrifugal o tial gearing, a l ad S a t arrangedWithin Said and returning it to said reservoir. hollow shaft andconnected to the third element I 14, I combination, a, driving member, adriven of said gearing, sa d hollow Shaft and load Shaft member, arotatable gear case connected with commutator c d adjacent the 8nd ofSaid sun gears, a lubricant within the gear case suba n' d by Sa d d umd cooperating with Said force, and means for expelling oil bycentrifugal 9. In a power transmission system, an engine charge of saidoil and being operated to open vi n l P mp, a dynamo having anarmaposition by centrifugal force to permit the dis- 80 connectedtoathird element of said gearing, said casing driven by said shaftincluding a duct of said dynamos, and mea s f r Supp ying 011 saidcasing, and a throttling orifice included in to said ar ng from saidengine pump. one of said ducts to prevent relief of pressure in 10. Incombination, a driving member, a driven the engine oil supply system.

16. In a vehicle transmission system, an engine one Of the members,differential gears in Said located near the front of the vehicle, a,dynamo ca nd con n he members includin n driven by the engine andlocated to the rear 01' having a hollow being provided with an air inletlocated forward of the engine and an outlet at its rear, and a fanwithin said housing and driven by one of said dynamos for passing airthru both dynamos from front to rear. v

1'1. In combination, a dynamo having a stationary field structure and arotatable armature, a differential gearing embodied in said dynamostructure and having said armature, a second dynamo axially aligned withthe first dynamo and having a stationary field structure secured to thefield of the first dynamo to form a common enclosing housing for saiddynamos, an armature for the second dynamo shait connected to a secondelement of said gearing, a load shaft within said hollow shaft andconnected to a third element of said gearing, said hollow shaft and loadshaft each having a splined connection whereby the second dynamo andload shaft may be removed as a unit from the first dynamo and gearing,said common housing being provided with an air inlet at one end adjacentthe first dynamo and an air outlet at the other end, and one of saidarmatures for passing air through said dynamos.

iii/A diiferential gearing comprising a large sun gear having helicalteeth, a planet gear having helical teeth meshing with said sun gear, aplanet carrier for said planet gear, and means forrelieving lateralthrust between the planet gear and the planet carrier in eitherdirection including a two-direction anti-friction thrust bearing havingits outer race locked against axial movement in either direction withrespect to the large sun gear, and itsinner race locked against axialmovement in either direction with respect to the small sun gear adaptedto take up thrust between the sun gears in either direction.

19. In combination, a drive shaft, a load shaft axially aligned withsaid drive shaft, a diiferential gear arranged between said shafts,bearings for rotatably supporting the planet spider of the diiierentialgear by said drive shait said load shaft having a splined connectionwith said spider, whereby said difierential gearing is supconnected toported independently of the load shaft and said load shaft may beremoved without dismantling said gearing.

2G. in combination, a gear, a rotatable hous ing enclosing said gear,means for supplying oil to the interior of said gear housing during rotation, and means operable during rotation of said housing for withdrawingthe oil from said housing at a point near the periphery thereof and forreturning the same to said supplying means,

21. In combination, a driving member, a driv en member, a rotatable gearcase connected with one of the members, gears within said caseconnecting said members, an oil reservoir, means for pumping oil fromthe reservoir into a relatively central part of the gar case, and meansfor expelling oil by centrifugal force from a radially distant point ofthe gearcase, and means for collecting said expelled oil and returningit to said reservoir.

22. In combination, an engine having a shaft with an oil supply ductformed therein, an oil pump connected to said duct, an oil reservoirconnected with said oil pump, a gear casing secured to the engine shaftto rotate therewith, a within said rotatable casing, means with theinterior of said casing, means for conducting the oil to the gearing bycentrifugal force, means for ex= polling oil from the rotatable casingand means for returning said oil to the oil reservoir.

23. In combination, a drive shaft, a load shaft, a gearing interposedbetween the shafts including a large gear and a small gear, a gear casearranged to surround said gears and connected to one of the shafts torotate therewith, a gear lubricant within the gear case, and anintermediate gear meshing with the large and small gears, saidintermediate gear having a lubricant reservoir formed therein and ductsconnecting said reservoir with the spaces between the teeth on saidgear, whereby upon rotation of said gears the teeth of the large gearforce inbricant into said reservoir and lubricant is conveyed by saidducts to said small gear.

